Akashi Castle, Japanese castle in Akashi, Japan
Akashi Castle is a fortified structure in the city of Akashi in western Japan, rising on a hill above the Seto Inland Sea. The two remaining three-story towers stand connected by stone walls within what is now Akashi Park.
The fortress was raised between 1617 and 1619 under the direction of Ogasawara Tadazane as part of a defense line along the coast. Materials from nearby fortifications at Miki and Takasago were reused in its construction.
The name refers to the reddish soil found on the hill where the structure was built. Today, local residents come to the park to relax under the cherry trees or rent boats on the pond.
Access to the park grounds is through a ten-minute walk from Akashi Station on the JR Sanyo Main Line. Both towers can be viewed from ground level, and the view over the bay is clearest on calm days.
The site is among the few Japanese fortresses that never faced feudal conflict. Gonoike Pond in the park was created to replace the original moat after it was filled in.
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